Disappearing stairway



June 23, 1931. F. E. BESSLER 1,811,707 1 DI SAPPEARING STAIRWAY Filed July 20, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 [071mm Em June 23, 1931. F. E. BESSLER DISAPPEARING STAIRWAY Filed July 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III] III III INVENTOR. .A /I/VK E. BEssLe'R.

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June 23, 1931. F. E. B ESSLER DISAPPEARING STAIRWAY Filed July 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. AWN/v f. Bessue.

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Patented June 23, 1931 ii l S T "res FRANK BESSLER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BESSLER DISAPPEARING ST'AIRWAY COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DISAPPEARING STAIRVTAY Application filed July 20,

;u ject the provision of disappearing stairway constructions with suitable tackle and controls whereby it may be simply and effectively operated by electric motor or the like.

The foregoing and other objects are at- ".5 tained in the stairway construct-ion illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in its application to the particular type of construction Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a stairway installation embodying the invention and shown in a position ready for use;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section of the installation showing the stairway when not in use; a Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the toggle linkage for controlling the panels Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Flgure 4; 1

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of the motor control system with the switches'diagrammatically shown in one operating position;

Figure 7 is 'an enlarged front elevation of the automatic switch mechanism;

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 7 and I 1 Figure 9 is a detail front elevation of the top end of the stairway showing the control of the automatic switch.

The drawings illustrate a disappearing stairway construction of a type heretofore quite generally used including {L CfBIlIDg panel 10 hinged at 11 in one end of a ceiling opening through which the stairway gives access to the floor above. I

The stair structure includes stringers 12, 12

1928. Serial No. 294,275.

and treads 13, 13 and is arranged to be supported at the desired inclination when in use by the paneland to slide thereon to a position permitting closing of the panel and carrying of the stair structure'th'ereby up out of the way. The particular method of mounting the stair structure for these movements is not a part of this invention and one conventional mounting is shown which will not require detailed description.

For operating the stairway, a reversible motor 14 may be mounted o'n'the upper floor and suitably geared to a drum shaft 15 on which are cable winding drums 16, 16. In its preferred form, the construction employs a single cable 17, the ends of which wind on drums 16 and which pass about sheaves 18, 18 on the opposite sides of the free end of the panel 10, sheaves 19, 19 which may be journaled on the opposite sides of the jamb of the ceiling opening andsheaves 20, 20 on the opposite sides and adjacent the lower end ofthe stair structure. In this manner, the tension in the stretches of cable between drums 16, 16 on the opposite sides of the stair structure is equalized.

For supporting the stairway in its position of use, toggle linkages 21, 21 are employed between the jamb of the ceiling opening and the free end of the panel, each of which linkages is provided with an interengaging lip and slot at 22 and 23 or other means at tlr oint for locking the linkage slightly past a dead center position when the stairway is moved to its position of use so that the panel will be held down during sliding movement of the stairway when the structure is being retracted. The toggle linkages are rendered adjustable as by providingadjustable pivot bloclrs 24L, 24 on the amb whereby the anguiarity of panel 10, when the stairway is in use, may be very accurately adjusted;

Suitable single-pole, double-throw switches 25 and 26 such as used in house wiring systems are arranged in the lower and upper rooms connected by leads as indicated in'the diagram and in dotted lines in the drawings to control supply of power to motor 14 through a reversing switch 27 and a reversing switch 28, each of which may be of usual construction such as used in house wiring systems and may be mounted in the upper floor at one side of the opening.

The switches 27 and 28 are provided with a double acting operating plunger 29 arranged to be pushed downwardly when it is up by a side extension of the upper stair tread and to be pushed upwardly by the closing of the panel 10, a plate 10 on the upper face of the panel being adapted to engage the lower end of the plunger when the plunger is down, the plunger being adapted to simultaneously stop the motor in each case and reverse the connections thereto so that a succeeding operation of either switch 25 or 26 will drive the motor in the proper direction. Any suitable arrangement may be made to operate the two reversing switches 27 and 28 simultaneously, one well-known way of doing this being illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the usual tumblers 27 and 28 of these standard switches being operable by transverse rods 85 and 36 on a rocker 37 pivoted at 3.8, pins 39 and 40 on the plunger 29 being adapted to engage rocker 37 to operate the tumblers 27 and 28 together downwardly and upwardly. The details of such automatically operated switches are old and well-known and do not form a part of the present invention.

The toggle linkages 21 are so adjusted when the device is installed that the plunger 29 of the controlling switches will be properly engaged by the upper tread extension as the lower end of the stairway engages the lower floor. To break the toggles when the stair structure has been slid on the panel to a position permitting closing thereof, a rod 32 is extended through the stringers adjacent their lower ends to provide projections 33, 33 for engaging the linkages 21.

In the operation of the stairway to its position of use, either switch 25 or 26 may be operated, starting the motor 14 in a di] ction to pay out cable 17 whereby, due to the "w em'ht of the panel and stair structure, they swing downwardly as far as toggle linkage 21 permit and then the stair structure slides downwardly to the lower floor, whereupon the upper tread extension 30 actuates the switch plunger and stops the motor and resets the connections for reverse operation thereof.

hen the stairway is to be retracted, either of switches 25 and 26 are again operated, driving of the motor being accomplished in the reverse direction which winds cable onto the drums, causing the stair structure to slide upwardly on the panel until projections 33 engage linkages 21, whereupon the further winding up of the cable draws the panel 10 .hut, the panel actuating the plunger 29 and stopping the motor as it is shut.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that stairways of the disappearing ceiling type have been effectively rendered power operable 1 by the invention and that numerous modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, toggle linkages between the free end of the panel and the jamb of the ceiling opening adjustable to support the panel at a determinate angle when open and adapted to look past dead center to hold the panel open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven thereby, a single cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel, one adjacent the hinged end of the panel and one on the stair structure, the cable extending across the stair structure between the sheaves thereon, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, said switch mechanism including a double acting plunger, means on the upper part of the stair structure for actuating the plunger in one direction when the stairwa' moves to its position of use, said unger being operable by the panel in the other direction when the panel is shut, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, toggle linkages between the free end of the panel and the jamb of the ceiling opening adjustable to support the panel at a determii'iate angle when open and adapted to lock past dead center to hold the panel open, a reversible motor, 'able winding drums adapted to be driven thereby, stretches of able, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which are extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel and one adjacent the hinged end of the panel, the cable stretches being connected to each side of the stairwa one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, said switch mechanism including a double acting plunger, means on the upper part of the stair structure for actuating the plunger in one direction when the stairway moves to its position of use, said plunger being operable by the panel in the other direction when the panel is shut, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

3. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a. stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted'to lower bygravity, means for supporting and holding the panel at a determinate angle when open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven thereby, a single cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel, one adjacent the hinged end of the panel and onecn the stair structure, the cable extending across the stair structure between the sheaves thereon, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, said switch mechanism including a double acting plunger, means on the upper part of the stair structure for actuating the plunger in one direction when the stairway moves to its position of use, said plunger being operable by the panel in the other direction when the panel is shut, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

4. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, means for supporting and holding the panel at a determ1- nate angle when open, a reversible motor,

cable winding drums adapted tobe driven thereby, stretches of cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extendedover sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel and one adjacent the hinged end of the panel, the cable stretches being connected to each side of the stairway, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, said switch mechanism including a double acting plunger, means on the upper part of the stair struc- H ture for actuating the plunger in one direction when the stairway moves to its position of use, said plunger beingoperable by the panel in the other direction when the panel is shut, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

5. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, toggle linkages between the free end of the panel and the jamb of the ceiling opening adjustable to sup port the panel at a determinate anglewhen open and adapted to lock past dead center to hold the panel open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven thereby,

a single cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel, one adjacent the hinged end of the panel and one on the stair structure, the cable extending across the stair structure between the sheaves thereon, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, means on thestair structure for actuating said switch mechanism when the stairway moves into its position of use, means on the panel for actuating the switch mechanism when the stairway is retracted, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

6. Adisappearing stairwaycomprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable thereon, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, toggle linkages between the free end of the panel and the j amb of the ceiling opening adjustable to support the panel at a determinate angle when op en and adapted to look past dead center to hold thepanel open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven thereby, stretches of cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which are extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel and one adjacent the hinged end of the panel, the cable stretches being connected to'each side of the stairway, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, means on the stair structure for actuating said switch mechanism when the stairway moves into its position of use, means on the-panel for actuating the switch mechanism when the stairway is retracted, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

7. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure car ried thereby and slidable thereon, said stair way adapted to lower by gravity, means for supporting and holding the panel at a determinate angle when open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven "thereby, a single cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extended over sets of sheaveson each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel, one adjacent the hinged end of the panel and one on the stair structure, the cable extending across the stair structure between the sheaves thereon, one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, means on the stair structure for actuating said switch mechanism when the stairway moves into its position of use, means on the panel for actuating the switch mechanism when the stairway is retracted, and means on the stair structure for breaking the toggle linkages when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

8. A disappearing stairway comprising a hinged ceiling panel, a stair structure carried thereby and slidable therein, said stairway adapted to lower by gravity, means for supporting and holding the panel at a determinate angle when open, a reversible motor, cable winding drums adapted to be driven thereby, stretches of cable, the ends of which are attached to said drums, and which is extended over sets of sheaves on each side of the stairway, each including one adjacent the free end of the panel and one aojacent he hinged end of the panel, the cable stretches being connected to each side of the stairway,

I one or more switches in the motor circuit for starting the motor, switch mechanism in the motor circuit for stopping the motor and reversing the connections thereto, means on the stair structure for actuating said switch mechanism when the stairway moves into its position of use, means on the panel for actuating the switch mechanism when the stairway is retracted, and means on the stair structure for releasing the panel holding means when the stair structure is moved upwardly thereon to permit closing of the panel.

9. The combination with a stairway of the disappearing ceiling type including a hinged panel and a stair structure carried thereby and slidable so as to be extended and retracted thereon, of power means for retracting the stairway, cable means connecting the power means to the stair structure and panel to slide the stair structure up to retract it on the panel and to swing the panel shut, means for holding the panel open during movement of the stair structure up onto the panel when bein retracted, and means on the stair structure IOI releasing the holding means when the stair structure is moved up to its retracted position on the panel to permit closing thereof.

10. A disappearing ceiling stairway comprising a movable panel, a stair structure carried thereby and movable thereon, power means for moving the panel and for moving the stair structure on the panel, means for supplying power to the power means, and means actuated by movement of the panel and stair structure respectively to its retracted position and its position for use to disconnect the supply of power from the power means.

11. A disappearing ceiling stairway comprising a movable panel, a stair structure carried thereby and movable thereon, reversible power means for moving the panel and for moving the stair structure on the panel, means for supplying power to the power means, and means actuated by movement of the panel and stair structure respectively to its retracted position and its position for use to disconnect the supply of power from the power means and to reverse the connection of the supplying means to the power means.

12. A disappearing ceiling stairway structure coniprising a movable panel carrying a stanstructure, power means for moving the stairway structure between a retracted position and a position of use, means for supplying power to the power means, and means operable by movement of the stairway structure to said positions to disconnect the supplying means from the power means.

13. A disappearing ceiling stairway structure comprising a movable panel carrying a stair structure, reversible power means for moving the stairway structure between a retracted position and a position for use, means for supplying power to the power means, and mechanism actuated by movement of the stairway structure to disconnect the supplying means from the power means and to reverse the power supplying connections.

14:. A disappearing stairway for a ceiling opening comprising a stairway construction movable from said opening between a posi tion up out of the way and a position of use n which it is extended to a lower floor, driving means for operating the stairway between these positions, and means operable by the stairway as it moves into said positions for stopping the driving means.

15. A disappearing stairway for a ceiling opening comprising a stairway construction movable from said opening between a position up out of the way and a position of use extended to a lower floor, reversible driving means for operating the stairway between these positions, means operable by the stairwayas it moves into such positions to stop the driving means, and means controlled by movement of the stairway into such positions for reversing said driving means.

FRANK E. BESSLER. 

